Pages

Saturday, 2 September 2017

Tales from the summer

Writing at the indoor skatepark. This is grand luxury for someone accustomed to standing outside watching various sporting things in the rain. Shelter! Hot drinks! A sofa! The spaced used to belong to Damien Hirst so it has all sorts of creative energies flowing through it. Well, it has sofas anyway and maybe the ghost of a cow or two. Looking at the photo I feel I have to say that I wouldn't normally put my feet on a table, especially not with shoes on. But at the skatepark it's almost de rigeur. Picture by the littlest boy.

We went to the woods on the hottest day last week so that the dog could gallop around in the shade. There were excellent vines for doing the Tarzan thing. And butterflies, including this one - a silver washed fritillary I think. Photo by the biggest boy - I'm hopeless at photographing butterflies and missed it completely.

The garden had got away from me a little over the holiday so we had a big tidy of it last weekend, including dragging all the pots out and weeding the patio. This is just about everyone's worst job, especially those over 6'.

I finally grew a dahlia this year and the bees are loving it. Down at the allotment there was a sunflower.

On the subject of the allotment, I have decided to give it up for now. As you can imagine, it takes a serious number of hours to keep a plot in reasonable shape, and while I'm trying to establish myself as a freelance writer I simply don't have the time.

It's a bit sad, but I know it's the right thing to do. Someone else with more hours to spare will make better use of the land. And the garden is more than enough for me right now. It's also been tricky to get down to the plot with the puppy. It had got to the stage where it was a problem hanging over me, so there's relief mingled with the disappointment. A weight off my mind. Now I can concentrate on the other weights.

Summer is rolling on around here. There is still cricket to be played and sunshine to be enjoyed. Although tomorrow there are three football matches and a forecast of rain. A new season begins. I'm in.

Lovely photos- your garden is looking very smart. I know what you mean about the allotment. They are very time consuming. Ours is only a half plot but takes quite a lot of time. If it's become a worry, then it's time to give up and concentrate on other things :)

So sorry about the allotment but there is only so much time to go around. Can you plant more vegetables at your home to make up for some of the loss? But there is excitement in the air with your writing!!!! Hooray for you. And you go girl putting your feet up on the table, it is a skate park you almost have to.

"A new season begins" is right, and the right way to look at it. Your boys are more independent and you now have the time to focus a bit on yourself. It doesn't mean you won't eventually have the time for an allotment and writing, it's just that right now you are content with your own yard and the goals you are setting for yourself as a writer. I think that kind of prioritizing is necessary and the only way we can keep from burning out. Good for you, CJ, for recognizing and doing what you need. I can imagine it's bittersweet, though. My youngest starts kindergarten soon and while I know it will give me more time to write, clean, garden, etc, it's the end of something special and irreplaceable. Also it's the natural progression and I'm focusing on that. Best of luck in this new season :) Jill

I think giving up the allotment is a good idea, although I know it must be bittersweet for you. I find our garden a HUGE time drain in the spring and summer (although a very pleasantly one) and think an allotment would tip me over the edge. I'm so glad you're really going at the writing with such intention and purpose, you're good at it and you deserve to make a success of it. Xx

I think giving up the allotment is a good idea, although I know it must be bittersweet for you. I find our garden a HUGE time drain in the spring and summer (although a very pleasantly one) and think an allotment would tip me over the edge. I'm so glad you're really going at the writing with such intention and purpose, you're good at it and you deserve to make a success of it. Xx

A new season and a new chapter in your life - you've done the right thing regards the allotment. It's not like it's the end of that story though...you may well come back to it when the boys are all grown, when you have more time. Or maybe you won't, and that's okay too. You had fun!

September is a good month to 'get ready' for Autumn, my fave time of year. There is much to look forward to, and I imagine your boys will be going back to school very soon too, so hopefully that might give you a little more time. Thank you for sharing, have a good week.

Hobbies and interests cycle in and out of our lives at various stages - maybe you'll feel the desire to garden in another year or two. Good for you for diving into something new. (And you certainly have a lot of other things - furry, haired, and otherwise - that demand your attention!)

The skate place looks like our local indoor BMX place. Sofas are good, as is coffee. Sad about your allotment (will be missing your allotment adventure posts) but you are right to make more time for your writing. There is a right time for everything. Wishing you luck. xx

Hey CJ,I had to give up plot no 10 (I kept it quiet) because I just didn't have the time. I was wracked with guilt, but felt relief whenI finally admitted defeat. This summer I've managed to grow tons, cues, courgette, runner beans, chillis, and strawbs at home. I'll take that. So pleased about your writing: I've very nearly finished faffing with a short story that I'm almost ready to share. Part of a series that have taken shape in my head.Leanne xx

I don't know if I'd be able to keep up an allotment plot either, especially with your own yard or garden at home to take care of too. It seems like a lot. I don't blame you for letting it go. I love the photo of you at the skate park. I heartily agree, if you can't put your feet on the table in a skate park, where can you?

For everything there's a season..so the saying goes...and I'm sure that applies to allotmenteering. I know that once I gave myself permission to scale down my veg patch and focus on perennial things like fruit and flowers it was a great weight off my already-overburdened shoulders. So good on you for recognizing it was time to let go.

Sorry to hear about the allotment but I can understand how you need to reorganise your time especially now you have the puppy! We enjoyed having an allotment and I felt sad when we gave it up but at least we had the experience of having one and swooping ideas and plants with other holders. Those memories will stay with you and if you can possibly get another one in the future. I love the picture of you at the skate park. At least my son was old enough to go to one on his own when he took up skateboarding! Sarah x

I think it's fantastic that you can be there with your boys and their sports, and also do your work and use that time well. Love this picture of you-it's the 'you' I imagine you to be!

I know your garden is back in shape, your pots look gorgeous and healthy! I have let my city garden grow wild and I really need to do a good clean up. Last year it was thriving because I was never in the country. Now my garden here is coming along and gosh, I, don't know how to keep both going! Lack of rain is always the problem. Enough whining!

So glad you have enjoyed your holidays. Do your children go back to school this week? Around the sports, I hope you have time to get your writing done, some attention to your book, and some ME time!!!

I love the picture of you at the skatepark in a notebook surrounded by kids' gear. I love that your kids are so active and enjoy it and seek it out on their own. The woods look to be an absolute adventure.

Subscribe To Above the River

Welcome

About

Welcome to Above the River. I'm CJ and this is where I talk about life as it happens to me, in a small market town in South Gloucestershire. If you'd like to comment, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks for visiting.